Atrial natriuretic peptide infusion improves ischemic renal failure after suprarenal abdominal aortic cross-clamping in dogs

Objective The suprarenal abdominal aortic cross-clamping during aortic aneurysm repair causes renal dysfunction after surgery. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a hormone synthesized by the cardiac atria, induces diuresis-natriuresis and increases glomerular filtration rate. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that prophylactic ANP infusion could limit the development of acute renal failure after aortic cross-clamping. Design Prospective, comparative, experimental study. Setting Laboratory at a university hospital. Subjects Twelve male beagle dogs (10-13 kg) with mechanical ventilation under pentobarbital anesthesia. Interventions A catheter was inserted into the femoral vein, and lactated Ringer solution (10 mL/kg/hr) was administered throughout the study period. Two groups of animals were studied: the control group (n = 6), which received saline vehicle before and after suprarenal abdominal aortic cross-clamping for 1.5 hrs; and the ANP group (n = 6), which received ANP (1 microg/kg/min) for 5 hrs, starting from 10 mins before suprarenal abdominal aortic cross-clamping until the end of procedure. Measurements and main results Changes in systemic and renal hemodynamics, blood gases, and renal function were measured at baseline and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hrs after aortic cross-clamping. After aortic cross-clamping, urine volume, renal blood flow, and creatinine clearance significantly (p <.01) decreased, and serum creatinine concentrations significantly (p <.01) increased, but these effects were limited by continuous ANP infusion. Conclusions The present study shows that ANP infusion preserved renal function after suprarenal abdominal aortic cross-clamping in dogs. These results justify a trial of ANP infusion in humans during aortic aneurysm repair.